Ariadre and the Legend of the Fire Rose

by Kristi A. Cole

Ariadre never expected that the last thing her mother would ever say to her would lead her to a mysterious manor in the middle of the woods. Desperate and alone, she finds herself at the mercy of the people that live there.She quickly learns that it is not just any manor. It is a school for girl that teaches weaponry.With nowhere else to go, Ariadre decides to enroll in the school. But as time goes on, a darkness creeps in from the forest. People are disappearing without a trace, vicious animal packs are growing, and strange markings are appearing on the trees.As Ariadre tries to figure out why these things are happening, she discovers that the manor is hiding something- a legendary rose of fire. And when she finds it just days after her sixteenth birthday, she is surprised when its flames don't burn her. Instead, the rose leaves her forever changed and with more questions than answers....Can Ariadre unravel the secrets of the manor and find the source of the darkness? And can she unlock the power of the fire rose and save her friends before its too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, Young Adult

376 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2024

Reviews

[ChrissiesPurpleLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

" A lie, though it burns like a fire and cause great pain and devastation, will never be able to survive once the truth is poured over it. Because its is made of an entirely different substance. The truth will always be more powerful. Therefore you can rest in the truth, even if you are the only one who knows it."

Ariadre an orphan desperate and alone finds herself at a mysterious manor on the edge of Blackvane Forest. However, she is not alone for there are other young girls who live there as well. Ariadre discovers magical secrets, learns new skills and faces her own past pain. This story surprised me so much! Ariadre is a protagonist you can cheer for as she overcomes her fears and enemies. The found family adds depth and stability to Ariadre's character.

Also, I appreciated the fact that although these young woman are learning weaponry and fighting skills it is tempered with learning other skills such as gardening, music, public speaking etc. This perspective portrayed a picture of what a truly Godly woman is. Fierce, determined and meek in spirit. The Christian faith allegory was unique in this book too! I loved how it was used to convey strength, wisdom and power. The world building and setting lended to magical secret gardens and stony passageways in the day and but also unsettling and dangerous at night. The plot was was fleshed out and propelled the story forward with exciting pace and adventure at every turn of the page.

Although this is a fantasy story it was not overwhelming with intense plot, world-buiding or setting. Granted I love deep intense epic stories like that, but for readers who just want a fun fantasy story with not a lot of expansive plot point this is perfect. Overall, the theme of redemption was fully realized. We are daughters of the King of Kings, redeemed, made free by our Father's great love. Oh my I love this story so much!

[Reese Songbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give this 10 stars?? I loved this book so much, definitely one of my favorites this year.
It was so detailed, but not in a boring way.
The characters were very well written and relatable!
I loved the group of friends Ari had and their trails and victories.
The plot was gripping, especially when you hit the 50% point. I read the rest in maybe an hour and a half. Couldn’t put it down!
There’s so many things I could literally talk about for hours but to sum it all up, is that i loved it and can’t wait for the next book.

[Tales and Treats with Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a tad nervous to read this since it's my first time reading a story from an author I know, via booktube. But I was truly taken away by Kristi's abundance of creativity and how well she built the world and her characters.

For me, Ariadre's story is very reminiscent of Ella Enchanted, which is my favorite middle grade novel--the whimsical feelings, the school with girls, etc. You can see Kristis love of plant life with several descriptions of flowers and other plants, garden rooms, mazes of gardens, extensive grounds, Ariadre tending her own garden etc-- I hadn't seen an author so obviously put a piece of themselves in a book before and I really enjoyed it! I just wanted to puruse the grounds myself and take in the scenery.

Ariadre is a strong character but she's also still a girl, and you see that in her interactions with one of the mean girls at the school. We see Ariadre grow in her character as she goes through trying experiences; it's great to see moral lessons in the story that the reader can learn from too! Also although this isn't marketed as Christian, there are allegorical elements that would be pretty obvious to a Christian but could be not as apparent otherwise--think of LOTR and Narnia.

The entire story was interesting with tidbits of information being revealed slowly but the last 1/4 of the book is very page-turning inducing.

There were a few signs this was a debut novel but the story itself outshone those parts for me. Can't wait for the next book!

Content: death of parents, bullying

Christian faith rating: 1/3 clean fiction but with Christian-friendly morals and allegorical elements

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jamie (The Kansan Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you, it’s a bit nerve wracking to read a friend’s book. I don’t mean a friend’s favorite, I really mean her book.

Thankfully, I don’t have to tell her I hate it. In fact, I had the privilege to tell her she is my first official five star this year. The writing style has to be one of the most beautiful styles I’ve read in a long time. I buddy read this with some wonderful ladies, Lucy from the Lucy Chronicles, Cheryl for Candlewick Library, Celestria, and Jamie @readbrucey. We read two chapters a day. I think this helped me enjoy the book even more. I got to slowly digest it and think of even the smaller things I tend to miss in a book.

If you were debating on reading this book, I’m here to tell you to read it. I was hooked from the start. There were no slow moments or drag moments. I wanted to be in the story constantly.

I can’t wait for book two to come out. I know she is in the editing process so hopefully soon.
---
Rtc when mind not blown

[Rachel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I read the last page and turned it think there was more, I shouted “No, wait!”
This book is truly endearing in so many ways. I personally believe this is what Christian YA fantasy should be. With strong Christian themes and characters who are constantly being molded, Kristi A. Cole writes a beautiful book about forgiveness and becoming who we are. I truly enjoyed watching Ariadre grow not only as a character on page, but as person I would love to befriend. Her story is impactful and important. As a lover of fantasy, I loved reading about all new creatures and lands. Also, the descriptions of these fantastical things are directly described, but that helps build a stunning world you learn to love. There was a mention of an enchantress, but this did not feel dark at all. The magic was portrayed as a tool to be used, not a dark force. Our characters could use magic for good or bad, but what shines through is the pureness of their hearts. This world was built with love. Truly! From the stunning side characters to world building a fantasy, this book captures the ideal teenage Christian fantasy.

*I received an arc of this book, all opinions are my own*

[Miriam Simut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful story! I’m beyond impressed with the author’s creativity. I loved all the descriptions of flowers and gardens, forests and all the different creatures existing in this world. The symbolism throughout was wonderful! The plot pacing was well done and I was kept engaged throughout the entirety of the book. The last 1/4 was awesome! For me personally, I did find some of the dialogue to be awkward at times. This is also YA and as the characters are young teens, there was some pettiness and drama I don’t really like seeing in books. The writing also wasn’t my particular cup of tea, but I’m beyond impressed with this debut and think the author is super talented and will go far in her writing career!! 3.75/5

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun fairytale read! Once I got into this story I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the unique creatures that the character created. From the very first chapter I couldn't wait to find out what happened!

Very light on the romance, which I appreciated since the main character was barely 16. And concentrated more on the story and the journey of the characters.

4.5⭐

*thank you to the author for a complimentary copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Lucy Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A-minus; review to come…

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. I loved this world. I can’t wait for the next book

[Morgan's Endless Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I loved the allegory that Kristi wove into the story! The characters and plot were both fantastic, and, while I did predict some of the twists, I didn't see most of them coming.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay wow. Kristi A Cole IS NOT PLAYING AROUND THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Y'all watch for this to be in a video in the near future because I WAS LOWKEY OBSESSED OKAY. (I legit had a dream last night inspired by this book lol)
Stay tuned. 😉

[BookishKelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! How is this her FIRST published book?! It had me hooked from the very first chapter. The characters were well-rounded and multi-dimensional. You get to see struggles that each of them have and their potential for greatness as well. The world that she has built is interesting and the plot is intriguing. There is a bit of mystery and a whole lot of action. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

[Tee Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say this is the best fantasy book I’ve read all year!!

I’m always nervous to read books by someone I know but Kristi didn’t disappoint.

This book is everything I want in a fantasy and fairytale. It was action packed and full of so many twists and turns that I can’t give a long review.

I am excited for book two! This book is good for the entire family!

[Rebecca (booksandbreggs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this fantasy. I did not realize it was YA when I first added it to my TBR and it did have a little bit of the angstiness/selfishness of the characters that comes with YA reads. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the younger aspects of the characters didn't annoy me...LOL. At times the conversations were a little bit sterile and forced feeling, but for a debut novel, Cole did a wonderful job! I will pick up the next book because I need to know what happens! 4/5 stars.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great clean fantasy that I think would be great for anyone who is trying out fantasy for the first time, or doesn't like dark fantasy that still has adventure friendship and a sprinkle of romance. I would recommend it to 12 and up.

Romance: thoughts of liking another person

Language: none

Violence: mild

Lgbtq: none

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very enjoyable read! Just about every chapter had a mysterious turn to it! I loved the school (manor) setting! The world that Kristi built was so fun, and I was captivated by all the imagery she put in it. There are elements of faith (allegorical), which I loved. I am excited to see what happens next in the series! (4.5 stars!)

[Shelly Northcutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing. It was captivating, I could not put it down. I loved the details in everything she described. I liked how the book kept me guessing, what's gonna happen next. What is she gonna find out about.....well I can't tell you, you gotta read it. One of my favorite parts of the book is the room full of boxes. The advantages that Ali had to face. The confidence she gets. And of course the end....it makes you want to shed a tear. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!!!!!!

[Jamie Gordy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ariadre and her parents are attacked by a beast while traveling. Ariadre manages to get away, and her parents tell her to head towards the manor. When she gets to this manor she finds a school for girls where they learn about weapons and fighting (amongst other things). She becomes a part of this school. Years later, things are kind of going crazy…

This is such a wonderful book! Kristi A. Cole is a tremendous author to deserves all the mentions. This is a fantasy book with fantastical creatures and some magic. This book has echos of Harry Potter type characters and Narnia type worlds. It is, of course, a clean read. It’s not a blatantly Christian book, but the overtones are there. Kristi definitely threw in some major plot twists. I was group reading this with a group of ladies, so we were reading it slowly. It was so hard not to binge read it early on. I would definitely consider it unputdownable. Kristi is someone who I would consider a friend because of YouTube, so I was a bit nervous to read it because of the crazy chance I would not like the book. What a silly worry!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves sweet, clean Fantasy reads. If you are put off by a bit of magic then this might not be your book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It starts of as a scary experience turning into a mystery. It also becomes an adventure with life and death situations pulling at the emotions of the mind. One amazing young women; Ariadre learns so many talents and so much about her life, including the reality of who she really is and finding forgiveness.

I have different favorite parts. I will describe two:
The first one would have to be where she receives a very special gift of understanding different languages, which in-turn helps her to understand the treelyngs when she had a visit with them, which was my second favorite part. I absolutely loved the little human like treelyngs with big beautiful eyes.

I look forward to reading the next book. Also, I can't wait to see the movie? It would be as amazing as the book.